Lithuania accuses Russia of expanding GPS spoofing attacks deep into Europe

Lithuania accuses Russia of escalating GPS spoofing attacks that now threaten deep into Europe, with signals falsified up to 450 kilometers from Kaliningrad. Deputy head of Lithuania’s communications regulator Darius Kuliesius confirms Russia has expanded its network of spoofing antennas, enabling interference across NATO member states, including Poland, as reported by *Gazeta Wyborcza* . The tactic, which manipulates GPS coordinates to mislead navigation systems, has already disrupted aviation and maritime operations in the Baltic region, according to an Estonian researcher .

Lithuanian authorities warn the spoofing extends far beyond military targets, with civilian infrastructure increasingly vulnerable. Croatian and Serbian media report the same findings, citing Lithuanian officials who describe the threat as a "new front" in hybrid warfare . The disruptions coincide with a broader pattern of electronic warfare in the region, where GPS jamming has become routine near Russian-controlled territories.

Meanwhile, Lithuania faces a parallel cybersecurity crisis. Police confirm a massive data breach at the Migration Department, with hundreds of thousands of registry records stolen, according to Arūnas Maskoliūnas, head of the Criminal Police Bureau . The Centre of Registers, which manages personal and corporate data, has issued guidance for affected individuals, though the full scope of the leak remains under investigation .

Cyber incidents in Lithuania fell by 25% last year, but breaches targeting organizations and legal entities nearly doubled, a national cybersecurity report reveals . The shift suggests attackers are focusing on high-value institutional targets, likely with state-backed motives. Lithuanian officials have not publicly linked the registry breach to foreign actors, but the timing and scale align with a broader campaign of digital disruption in the Baltic states.

The GPS spoofing and cyberattacks underscore Lithuania’s role as a frontline state in Europe’s hybrid conflicts. NATO has yet to announce a coordinated response, but Baltic defense officials are pressing for enhanced electronic warfare defenses and stricter cybersecurity protocols. With Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave serving as a hub for electronic interference, Lithuania’s warnings carry implications for the entire alliance.